Trade Package of Michael Jordan Lookalikes and Former Royals

Sometimes when I am trying to complete a set I get more worried about filling the empty slots in the album rather than taking some time to look at the cards I get.  Sure I am checking some numbers off the want list but I may never look at these cards again.  So today as I was browsing through my trade package from Scott at Hand Collated I noticed something peculiar about the last three cards in the 2011 Topps stack he sent me.  Along with the 2009 Jason Giambi, I think you will see what drew my attention.  Do your best impression of Michael Jordan.....with the tongue out.

A couple of other cards that caught my attention were some former Royals.  David DeJesus was one of my favorite players the last couple of years, but after a trade to Oakland all that I am left with is the DeJesus t-shirt that I happened to be wearing today.  The other player was perhaps, the biggest waste of cash that the Royals have ever spent in free agency...and that is saying a lot considering our spending over the last two decades.  Kansas City fans were finally freed of the Jose Guillen debacle of the last couple of years when he went to the Giants at the end of the season.  While he still had some pop in the bat, the strikeouts and the atrocious defense were enough to make any fan turn on a player.  Now we know that the remaining pop in the old bat was courtesy of a little HGH bought as a gift from his wife.

I guess I just need to take a little time to see what I am getting.  You never know what will catch your eye.  Thanks again Scott for a great trade.

2000 Topps HD Trade Package...but I still need 24 more...any help?

I got home today and in the mail were the cards of a recent trade with Ron from New Jersey.  I traded some 2010 Topps Inserts for 3 2000 Topps HD cards.  A while back I dug through an old box and found these cards again.  This was the first "high end" box that I ever got to open thanks to a birthday present from my wife.  From Ron I received the Travis Lee, Randy Johnson, and Jose Canseco cards.  As you can see the photos on both sides are amazing with very high quality images.  This brings my want list down to 24 cards.  I never did buy any other packs of Topps HD back then so I am looking to finish this set off 11 years later via trades.  So if any of you have any 2000 Topps HD laying around check out my want list and let me know what you have.  Thanks Ron for getting me a little bit closer to the end!

Harold from Delaware is the Man! - Blog Namesake Set Completed

After starting this blog just over a year ago hoping to complete the first set that I ever started, I can now say that it is COMPLETE!  Harold from Delaware sent me the remaining 25 cards that I needed along with plenty of 2011 Topps and some Royals cards.  Upon entering into the card blog sphere and the trading that ensued, I have completed many trades but none sweeter than this one.  26 Cent Summer was started as a way to honor the 1980 Topps set that I started back when I was 6.  I had no idea that the first pack of cards that my dad bought me would lead to a lifelong hobby, nor did I know that it would take 31 years to complete that first set.  What a feeling it is!

Here are some of the cards that Harold sent me to complete my 1980 Topps set and also some Royals he sent along the way, including my current favorite player, Billy Butler.

And finally, here is the first page of my notebook that contains the COMPLETE 1980 Topps Set.  I not only want to thank Harold, but also Matt, Jeremy, and Darren who helped me complete the namesake set of 26 Cent Summer with some great trades over the last year.

Score Book #1 - Opening Day - Royals vs. Angels

I have always been fascinated with keeping score at baseball games.  I think that started as my love for statistics was created with me entering the baseball card hobby and thoroughly going over the back of every card.  Until I purchased Total Baseball and the Baseball Encyclopedia (and before I had internet access) baseball cards were my source of player statistics and the weird trivia provided by the old Topps cartoons.

Last week, I was able to attend my 3rd straight Opening Day and my 4th overall.  While the Royals once again lost, I am happy to report that tonight they moved to 4-1 on their 4th straight walk-off win.  I can always dream that this will be the year although I know it won't have a good chance of happening until some of the game's best prospects in baseball get called up.  We are hopeful that the best farm system in baseball will equate to the Royals making the playoffs by 2013 or 2014.  By that time I will have waited almost 30 years for them to get back there.  Here is a copy of my scorebook from Opening Day.  If any of you regularly keep score at games you attend, I would love to hear about it along with why you do it.

Royals - 3/31/11

Angels 3/31/11

Another Trade with Nachos Grande via Trade Stack Claim

I took a short hiatus from the blog world for a little rest and relaxation baseball style.  My wife and I were able to head to Phoenix and catch a little spring training baseball during our school's spring break.  We went to 5 games (a 6th was rained out) including 3 Royals games.  We were also able to see quite a bit of baseball's top farm system as we attended 3 minor league practices.  If any of you baseball fans have not had the chance to head Arizona or Florida, you need to find some time.  It is a great experience and one that you can't get during the season.  While down there we were able to see games at the new Diamondbacks facility along with the Royals, Mariners, Indians, and Dodgers camps.  Upon returning from our trip we were able to catch the Royals-Angels on Opening Day and then again on Saturday.  I am proud to say that the Royals are currently in 1st place in the AL Central after 4 straight walk-off wins.  While I would love to see that continue, realistically I know the success will probably be short-lived.  While I won't ever give up on them, I can definitely say it more fun when they're winning.

Anyway to the trade.  When Chris over at Nachos Grande posted statistics from his trade stacks, one notable team that was missing were the Royals.  I told him he should definitely get some Royals cards in the stacks and the very next stack started with a 1985 George Brett All Star.  After giving him a hard time about his lack of Royals in the past I felt that I better be a good trader and grab that stack.  I waited for a couple of days as he put some other cards onto the stack including Chipper Jones, Matt Williams, Andrew McCutchen, and W.E.B. Dubois.  While the Brett card sealed the deal for me, the Dubois card closed it as the history teacher in me said that I couldn't pass that up.  I have really enjoyed the Topps American Heritage sets so the stack became mine.  On top of that he sent me some additional Royals cards for my collection including one of recently retired Royal favorite Mike Sweeney.  Thanks Chris!